Manufacture of explosives.



STATS PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS HAWKINS, OF BALMAIN, NEAR SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.

MANUFACTURE OF EXPLOSIVES.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, THOMAS HAWKINS, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 7 Rowantree street, Balmain, near Sydney, in the State of New South Wales, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Explosives, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to explosives of the Sprengel class in which chlorate of potash is used as a base and which is turned into an explosive by saturation with an energizing fluid.

The object of the invention is to provide an explosive having, as compared with known explosives of this class, the following advantageous characteristics:great explosive force, little shattering yet great rending eflect, a minimum of noise in exploding, absence of offensive vapors, and economy and safety in manufacture. This objective is attained by using in'combination with chlorate of potash a new energizing fluid compound obtained as a resultant of specific treatment of Australian grasstree gum, acaroid, in place of other known energizing fluids such as nitrobenzol, carbon disulfid alone or in conjunction with dead oils. The said fluid and the chlorate being in themselves incapable of being exploded by percussion, can with safety be separately handled, the required combination being readily effected by dipping the chlorate of potash cartridge into the fluid when and as required. The cartridge is then allowed to drain until the fluid ceases to exude therefrom, when it (the cartridge) is ready for detonation by means known and suitable in connection with the explosives of the Sprengel class.

My said invention consists in an explosive of the class stated composed of a fluid resulting from the treatment by a special process of Australian grasstree gum, acaroid, and chlorate of potash.

The process of manufacture of my improved explosive consists of the specific treatment of the grasstree gum for the production of the energizing fluid and the saturation with the latter of the chlorate of potash. The said treatment of the grasstree gum for the production of the fluid is effected as follows: I takethe gum in powdered form and immerse it in a bath of Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 24, 191 5.

Application filed July 24, 1913. Serial No. 781,000.

kerosene to which has been added acetone and turpentine, the approximate proportions being ninety eight (98) parts, one (1) part, and one (*1) part respectively. The gum belng covered by the fluid to a depth of not less than six (6) inches is then decomposed by nitric acid (sp. g. 1.5) which in the fummg state is dropped through the bath on to the gum, the resultant reaction setting free several of the constituents of the gum nitrated or intact, but of little consequence as regards explosive force, which are taken up by the bath liquid, together with the gases evolved,'and to these gases, notably nitrogen trioxid and nitrogen tetroxid, 'I attribute the extra energizing eflect obtained over and above that which exists in the liquor itself, or in any other energizing liquor at present in use. The proportions of the gum, nitric acid and petroleum bath are as followsz gum, three (3) ounces, nitric acid, six (6) ounces, kerosene fluid, one (1) gallon. The bath liquid with the said gases and gum constituents absorbed forms the saturating fluid required for energizing the chlorate of potash and may be decanted or therwise drained ofl as required.

In consequence of the nitration by fuming nitric acid of the mixture of petroleum, acetone and grass-tree gum (acaroid), the resulting so-called energizing liquid is formed, the same being a canary-yellow liquid having a density of about .805.825, depending upon the quality of the material and care of manufacture, and a distinct smell of bitter almond oil owing to the presence of nitro-benzol (C H NO The composition of this liquid cannot be expressed by any single formula now known but is found to have the following constituents 1. Liquid hydro-carbons having the formula from (1 H, up to C H 2. Dimethyl ketone or C,H O.

3. Pinene or O l-I and other isomeric hydro-carbons.

i. Tri-nitro-phenol or (3 H (NO OH.

It has been found, moreover, that the energizing liquid reacts with known reagents as follows :If a solution of potassium cyanid is added to the energizing liquid and the latter heated to a certain degree, a deep red coloration takes place, owing to the trinitro-phen'ol present.

If a mixture of the energizlng liquid with hydro-chloric acid and tin proto-chlorid is heated and after cooling a few crystals of chemically pure potassium chlorid are added, the solution colors blue owing to the presence of picric acid. Upon adding potassuim ferro cyanid to the energizing fluid, the latter becomes clouded when heated owing to the presence of aromatic acid compounds, the cloudiness disappearing after adding a certain amount of alcohol.

The chlorate of potash is prepared in known manner and is made up into plugs (of convenient size and shape) enveloped in a porous envelop, the required energization of the same being effected by immersion in theenergizing fluid in the manner generally adopted. in connection with explo-.

sives ofthis class and draining until-the fluid ceases to exude therefrom. The cartridge is then ready for use.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The process of manufacturing explo sives of the Sprengel type which consists in preparing a cartridge of chlorate of potash, preparing an energizing fluid by immersing acaroid gum in a bath of kerosene con taining known quantities of turpentine and acetone, adding to said bath fuming nitric acid, and treating the said cartridge with said energizing fluid.

2. In the process of manufacturing explosives of the Sprengel class, the preparation smell of bitter almond oil, and giving the following reactions; when a solution of potassium cyanid is added 'to the energizing liquid and the latter heated to a certain degree, a deep red coloration takes place; if a mixture of the energizing-liquid with hydro-chloric acid and tin proto-chlorid is heated, and after cooling, a few crystals of chemically pure potassium'chlorid are added,

the solution colors blue; and, upon adding potassium ferro cyanid to the energizing 'fluid, the latter becomes clouded when heated owing to the presence of aromatic acid compound, the cloudiness disappearing after adding a certain amount of'alcohol.

Signed at Sydney New South Wales this second day of April A. D. 1913.

THOMAS HAWKINS. Witnesses:

WM. NEWTON, CHAS. HATTON. 

